The military says the adviser for Colorado Springs-based Morning Star Development was abducted last week and rescued after intelligence showed he was in imminent danger of injury or possible death.

Checque was a graduate of Norwin High School and was described by former classmates as being an extraordinary, driven young man.

“That was his plan. It wasn’t college, it wasn’t engineering. It was ‘I’m interested in being in the military. I’m interested in living that lifestyle of serving my country.’ That’s what he wanted to do from when I first became friends with him on the wrestling team,” Norwin High School Assistant Principal Michael Choby said.

Choby said he always knew Checque was special.

“Proud of where he went after being here and making an impact in the world and sad because we lost a great ambassador for Norwin,” Choby said.

Former SEAL Lew Knopp was trained by the same men as Checque and said SEALs who serve their country are willing to die for it.

“We would have done the job for any American no matter what status level – doctor, street person. We would have been in there to save them had the enemy taken them and that’s what went on there,” Knopp said.